To Kiss a Texan (Texas Brothers Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

Jodi Thomas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The second installment in Thomas's Texan Touch trilogy, set in the post- Civil War years, tells the story of love between down-on-his-luck rancher Wes McLain and wild-child Allie, whom he rescues from a cage in a preacher's traveling show. The premise of a white woman raised by Indians is not new to the romance genre, but, in an unexpected turn, Thomas represents the Indian responsible for Allie's raising as neither accepting nor caring. Following a past filled with mistreatment and isolation, Allie slowly overcomes her mistrust of Wes and his family, who, along with Allie's grandmother and an over-the-hill sheriff, provide depth and some much-needed humor to the narrative. The love story is bogged down with uninteresting villainous characters, however, and the end of Wes's quest for a buried treasure is a let down. This uneven road romance would have been stronger had more time been devoted to the McLain family's good-natured interplay and less to the unconvincing bad guys.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Wes McClain, a scarred and hardened Civil War veteran, has lost his herd of cattle, been jilted by his fiancee, and been publicly beaten. As he staggers into a darkened alleyway to recover, his eyes meet startling blue ones peering through the bars of a cage from beneath a dirty, ragged mop of hair. The young captive was "rescued" from the wild by civilized men, and her handler offers to let Wes have her for a fee. Disgusted and outraged, Wes knocks the man out and offers the woman a chance at freedom. On the run from the law and determined to protect his abused charge, Wes finds his own plans for the future usurped by his growing desire to care for this woman who can only say one word, "Allie," her name. RITA Award^-winning Thomas takes several heavily used story ideas--a marriage of convenience, buried treasure, and an Indian captive and lost heir--and breathes new and compelling life into them. Julie Garwood fans will appreciate Thomas' subtle humor and her deft handling of sensitive topics. Melanie Duncan

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 938 KB
• Print Length: 320 pages
• Publisher: Jove (May 1, 1999)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0013380XC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,944 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yummy!, March 20, 2000

By 

Tarris Tausig "tarris" (st. georges, bermuda) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Kiss a Texan (Texas Brothers Trilogy) (Paperback)

Ok, so the plot is a bit over the top. The average woman is not going to relate to our heroine based on what she's been through - but she will relate to the feeling of being used and abused and betrayed and generally misunderstood by the world in general. And that's where our heroine shines. She is smart and strong and is not waiting for a man to rescue her - though she desperately needs it. Our hero is [typically] looking for anything but love. However, he finds Allie and can't seem to help himself. These two bond and even though they're unsure of life and where it will lead, they treasure that bond. They are true to it. The plot is above and beyond, the characters and larger than life, but who cares? It works. Now I'm going to read the rest of the series.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb post Civil War romance, April 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: To Kiss a Texan (Texas Brothers Trilogy) (Paperback)

In 1868 near Denton, Texas, Civil War veteran Weston McClain feels his world has collapsed. He still suffers nightmares from the war and his ranch is failing. However, the worst blow is the rejection of his fiancee Angela Montago, whose wealthy and influential family refuses to allow her to wed a poor Yankee.

Though he knew he never loved Angela, Wes remains disappointed, frustrated, and bruised from the beating the Montago clan gave him. He decides to free a wild woman traveling inside a cage as part of a preacher's show. The formerly caged Allie fears humans as the Indians who once captured her totally abused her. Wes manages to escort Allie to his home where his family showers love and compassion on her. She begins to return to humanity. As Wes and Allie fall in love, he still has an economic crisis and his own demons to overcome before the duo can find a lasting happiness together.

TO KISS A TEXAN is an appealing western romance that makes Native Americans and Civil War veterans seem more like real people rather than noble savages. Allie is a great character, struggling to regain her humanity. Wes also is an intriguing player who still deeply suffers from Civil War syndrome. The secondary good guys soften the tension with humor and authenticity, but in contrast the villains never feel genuine. Still Jodie Thomas scribes a refreshing Americana romance that sub-genre fans will find entertaining and unique.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big Promises, Little Excitement. ** Grade: B **, January 21, 2005

By 

MaryGrace Meloche (Ontario, Canada.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Kiss a Texan (Texas Brothers Trilogy) (Paperback)

From the first page, Jodi Thomas drew me into her story. I'm a sucker for kindness, and TO KISS A TEXAN definitely has it, yet it is a story that boils over with promise but holds little excitement.

Wes McLain has lost everything: his money, his dreams, and his spoiled, rich fiancee. Her bodyguards have beaten the hope of marriage and the illusion of love right out of Wes McLain. Wes has given up on all female attachments until he spots the little creature inside the wooden cage. A small, dirty creature meant for display and entertainment. If it cost him everything, including his life, Wes would not allow this caged woman to suffer one more degradation.

Allie Catlin is a victim to man's cruelty. Allie watched her parents' slaughter, then suffered under the powers of slavery, and finally endured the brutality of religion gone amuck. Now she covers her face, whimpering, would she be the next victim to this mad man entering her cage? She listened, he whispered, and he raised his hand slowly . . . and so the first meeting of Wes McLain and Allie Catlin happened.

This book has definite strengths. Wes is appealing. His honesty, strength, and kindness make him an admirable match for the reserved, cautious Allie. The story itself is nicely paced and Allie's abuse and background provide plenty to keep the story going, but with this author's talent, I wanted just a little more. Yes, Thomas lets her reader see the stars, but I wanted to reach out and touch them.
Grade: B

MaryGrace Meloche
Reviewer for: Romance Designs